Display and storage device



Oct. 29, 1968 E. 1. KUMP DISPLAY AND STORAGE DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1967 Y ATTORNEYS United States Patent O "lee 3,408,128 DISPLAY AND STORAGE DEVICE Ernest I. Kump, 325 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto, Calif. 94301 Filed Feb. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 614,842 4 Claims. (Cl. 312--234) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A cabinet for displaying and storing samples of different materials. Each material is mounted on an identical base. The bases are normally stored in parallel grooves in cornpartments in the cabinet and pulled out and placed in grooves in the leading edge of the compartment dividers for display.

The present invention is directed to a display and storage device, and more particularly to such a device for exhibiting a plurality of materials of distinctive texture, color or shape, in a contiguous grouped relationship and storing the same when not in use.

Interior decorators and architects often have need to illustrate to their clients proposed combinations of materials, colors, fabrics, etc. Such materials may be in small sample blocks of wood or swaths of fabric, for example. Since there may be hundreds of different samples available, there has long existed a need for convenient storage method for these samples, and a convenient means of displaying them in order to show the decorating concept.

It is, therefore, a general object of the above invention to provide an improved display and storage device.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a display and storage device in which sample materials may both be stored and exhibited in a contiguous grouped relationship.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a display device of the above type which is simple and economical in construction and operation.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which the preferred embodiment is set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a display device embodying the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1.

The display cabinet of the present invention as illustrated in FIGURE l includes a base having sidewalls 11 and 12, and a top wall 13. Shelves divide this space into a plurality of similarly sized storage compartments 16, 17, 18 and 19. Each of the compartments has a top portion identified by the letter a, and a bottom portion identified by the letter b which portions form opposite sides of the shelves.

A typical sample material and base includes the sample material 21 mounted on a base 22. Base 22 has a length dimension, 1, which is horizontal, as indicated, and height and thickness dimensions, h, t, as indicated in the crosssection in FIGURE 2. The top and bottom portions a and b of each of the compartmetns include spaced rearwardly extending parallel slots identified by the letter c which accommodate the length dimension of the bases 22. Each base is identical in length, height and thickness. When the sample materials are not on display, the bases are normally vertically stored in the compartments 16-19, as indicated at in compartment 16.

In order to display the sample materials in a coplanar 3,408,128 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 and substantially contiguous relationship which serves to simulate the nal decorating effect as much as possible, coplanar grooves d and e (see FIGURE 2) are placed near the leading edges of the top and bottom portions a and b of each of the compartments. These coplanar grooves are perpendicular to the storage slots c and have a width sutlicient to easily accommodate the bases 22. The upper groove d is deeper than the groove e and the distance between the bottom of groove d, and the open end of groove e is greater than the height of base 22 whereby the base is placed in the groove by placing the upper edge in groove d and lifting the base to fully seat into the groove. The bottom of the base is then moved inwardly to register with the lower groove, and the base lowered to seat therein. However, the distance between the bottom of the lower groove e and the open end of the upper groove d is less than the height of the base. Thus, the upper edge of the base is still retained in the groove d.

In summary, the present invention provides a display device for exhibiting a plurality of sample materials where the materials are compactly and easily stored when not in use, and may then be selectively placed on display in an effective and simple manner.

I claim:

1. In a display and storage device for exhibiting a plurality of sample materials of distinctive texture, color, or shape in a contiguous grouped relationship, each of said materials being mounted on separate bases having a predetermined length, height and thickness, each base being identical in size, a cabinet having a plurality of shelves dividing said cabinet into a plurality of similarly sized storage compartments, each of said compartments having top and bottom portions, which are part of said shelves, with spaced rearwardly extending slots to store said bases in a vertical position, such top and bottom portions being spaced from each other substantially the same distance as the height of such bases and said compartments having a depth suflicient to accommodate the length dimension of said bases, means for displaying said sample materials on saidbases in coplanar substantially contiguous relationship, including coplanar grooves in said top and bottom portions, said grooves being perpendicular to said storage slots.

2. In a display and storage device as in claim 1 where said grooves in said bottom portions are deeper than said grooves in said top portions.

3. In a display and'storage device as in claim 1 where said grooves have bottoms and open ends and where the distance between the bottom of one of said coplanar grooves in a top portion and the open end of the opposite groove in a bottom portion is greater than the height of a base whereby said base may be easily inserted in said coplanar grooves, and the distance between the bottom of a groove in a bottom portion and the open end of an opposite groove in a top portion is less than the height of a base whereby said base is retained in said grooves.

4. In a display and storage device as in claim 1 where said coplanar grooves are in proximity to the forward edges of said top and bottom portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,702,127 2/ 1955 Pastorus et al. 211-41 2,762,672 9/1956 Motter 312-138 X 2,868,606 1/1959 Stierng 211-184 X 3,271,626 9/1966 Howrilka 211-41 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

